Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1724-1772, 1823, 1894-1922
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DAUTIE, DAWTIE, Da(a)tie, n. Also forms in -y. A pet, darling, special favourite (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicholson in County of Cai. 70, daatie; Bnff.4 1926, daaty). Also attrib. Widely used as a term of endearment = dear or darling (Bnff.2, Abd.16, Fif.10, Slg.3, Lnk.3 1940). Also found in Cum. dial. (E.D.D.). [′dɑ:tɪ̢ Sc., but m.Sc. + ′d:t]Sc. 1724–27 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) 163:
When e'er I kiss and court my dawtie, . . . My flighteren heart gangs pittie-pattie.Sh. 1908 J. M. E. Saxby in Old-Lore Misc. I. vi. 230:
Granny would add, “wir dawtie peerie oy” (our dearest little grandchild).Cai.(D) 1922 J. Horne Poems and Plays 125:
Hid's ower forsum wi' snuff-snifters; an' wud fyle yer han's, dawtie.Abd. [1768] J. Beattie Address xiii. in A. Ross Helenore (1788):
I here might gie a skreed of names, Dawties of Heliconian Dames!Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 52:
He hirsell'd closely to my side, Says, “Dautie, can ye wash an' shew?”Edb. 1772 G. Boyack Cries of Edb. in Scots Mag. (May 1934) 146:
Auld Sandy through Edinburgh prattles And cries out, O' wha'll buy my spunks! Buy spunks, Daties! wha'll buy spunks!Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. iii.:
Mistress Kilspinnie, my dauty, fill him a cup of wine.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xxxii.:
My dawtie, you an' me has baith lost faithers.
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"Dautie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dautie>
